Summer is a fantastic time to spend exploring the great outdoors. Longer days,
brighter evenings and (hopefully) warm summer weather all offer up optimal
conditions to engage in outdoor summer activities. From canoeing and abseiling,
to hiking, mountain climbing or rambling - outdoor activities are more fun in
the sun!
Of course, no list of outdoor
summer activities would be complete without the addition of camping and
backpacking. Thankfully however, long gone are the days of big and bulky
backpacks and huge tents - that take two people to carry and four people to
construct! Nowadays, thanks to advances within backpack and tent design and
technology, you can streamline your equipment, and by following some helpful
hints and tips you can achieve the ultimate goal of ultralight backpacking -
allowing you to travel further each day with less wear and tear being placed
upon your body.
The two most helpful hints
to apply when striving to achieve ultralight backpacking is to firstly pack
minimally and secondly to choose lightweight gear. Now, these may seem obvious,
and they are... however it is putting them into practice that is the key.
Start by making a list of bare minimum and
then stick to it! This should comprise of a sleeping bag, a tent, food, water,
cooking utensils, first aid kit, clothes and water. Ultralightcampstore.com has
some very useful and detailed information regarding backpacking, equipment and
assembling emergency kits. Their tips and product recommendations, which would
be especially useful for beginners, include planning for all weather conditions,
packing a ground sheet, warm sleeping bag, and extra socks!
When striving for lightweight backpacks
consider bringing water tablets instead of a filtration system, or even a
Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Purification Straw. A top food tip is to opt
for raw foods or food items which do not need to be cooked, thus negating the
need for a stove. Also consider an LED light instead of a heavy weight flash
light.
Now that you know what you need, it
is essential to purchase equipment that is both high quality and lightweight. A
really good backpack should have adequate straps and shoulder support, and for
convenience consider an inbuilt hydration system. Voted Eurobike product of the
year 2005, the MULE Hydration Pack from Camelbak is an excellent example for
what to look for when choosing a
backpack.
Perhaps the bulkiest items you will
carry in your backpack are your tent and sleeping bag, it is essential then to
ensure you invest in the lightest weight option available for these products -
while ensuring that you needs are met. When it comes to lightweight tents, the
AR Ultralite 2 tent from Mountain Equipment is a great example of a lightweight
tent that does not mean sacrificing on
space.
Also available from Mountain Equipment in the UK is the superb `minimalist` down sleeping bag,
which was awarded `best sleeping bag 2007` at European Outdoor Industry
Awards
